Category: Uncategorized

For an assignment that didn’t go according to plan I would have to say it was my first big project in art history. We had to choose from multiple art movements and we chose the Bauhaus. We could cover anything in this project, but it had to be Bauhaus related. At the end of a four week research, We would put everything together and make a 15 minute video presentation. We wanted to do some thing that was architecture related, and we were planning on doing a bunch of research for that specific subject and how it influenced architecture, specifically how impactful this movement was on architecture as a whole and how it’s so easy to find it right in your backyard, in Seattle. We wanted to basically show random places and show examples on how it would fit into the Bauhaus genre. And then at the end we would do a voice over of a video of us walking around the city, around IKEA, and neighborhoods just pointing out random examples. But we ran into some issues with that, we weren’t really allowed to point at random buildings and say that they were influenced by Bauhaus unless we actually knew they were for a fact influenced by it. So it was really hard to find any mention of any architect around Seattle that admitted they were heavily influenced by the movement. We did find one place but it was just like a lobby with a bunch of chairs. And we wanted to try to somehow relate IKEA too but there’s no clear article or anything on them saying “yes, it is Bauhaus related”. So that threw our whole plan overboard and we ended up having a ton of research on the Bauhaus but zero research on what we wanted the video to be about and we were honestly a week behind schedule. we had a bunch of research so we excited to just do an overview of the history of The Bauhaus and how it changed the world and influenced numerous things. The overview would still have the theme of how the modern day was heavily influenced by the movement so we were cool with that. And the video at the end of it didn’t include any footage, it was just a montage of photos broken up into specific categories. And then we did a voice over, everybody read a script and it honestly turned out really well. The transitions of the photos were really smooth and the voice overs were very relaxed and our partners picked out some really amazing music. It didn’t go according to plan but at the end of it we got an A and felt really proud about what we produced.

Inspirational egg photography set up. I’m not sure what this style of photography is called but I wanted to do a top down table spread. I was inspired by a lot of restaurant’s Instagrams. A restaurant I used to work for often displays their new specials all on one table and it’s very pretty and nothing is truly centered. I am not a photographer, this was very difficult for me, the lighting was really hard to set up. The overhead light was pretty harsh, decided to do this during the day so I could use more natural lighting.I wanted the photo to be some thing that could be like found in the kitchen, sort of a homey vibe. I’m not sure why I decided to put an egg in a plant but I thought it would be cute. I took this photo with my iPhone because I do not own a camera. I just edited it in my iPhone camera roll.

So I really like the outdoor space on the fifth floor. I think outdoor areas are pretty essential for student life. Personally an outdoor space helps me reconnect to myself. It’s a nice place to take a phone call and do some breathing. It is also a great place to have lunch, talk with friends, or just sit alone and listen to music. But during the rainy months it’s not very usable. It’s windy, too cold and wet. There is about like maybe a 2 x 2 area you can stand just outside the door. I thought about the idea of adding heaters to the design but I feel like the idea of having propane or something similar to that would be a little difficult for the school to maintain so I just left them out.

Outside either of the entrance is there will be a triangle awning to protect that area from rain. It would also be angled so that the water can slide off one side maybe into a flower bed or some sort of drainage. The big blank walls on either side strike me as a really great art opportunity. But since most of the people that are on the fifth floor are creative, I thought it be a great idea to have a large chalkboard on either side. This area will be for anybody to put their drawings, ideas, thoughts, and just goofy doodles. It’ll be water resistant but also the elements would help clean away the chalk, so there would always be a fresh surface to draw on. It’s fun to see what survives the longest on a chalkboard anyway. Overhead there would be some pretty outdoor lights, Seattle is often overcast so this would help brighten up a dark day. Also during in the winter it gets dark like around 3 PM so this would encourage students to stay a little bit longer, it feels more inviting and less spooky. Underneath each of the awnings will be tables and chairs similar to the ones that are already out on the patio. They can be rearranged, whether you have a big group of people or you just wanna sit by yourself. Also in the center of the outside area will be some weatherproof couches and a nice coffee table with a large umbrella that can cover the area. The umbrella could be collapsible so when it is sunny you can enjoy some of the sun and not have to have the patio completely covered. Along the railing are mountain shapes that are specifically designed to help protect the area from wind. Sitting right up next to these would keep you warm and blocked form the chilly air.

Overall I just wanted to redesign the space to be more inviting for people to hang out and be social outside. This allows the space to be more available year-round. It still probably wouldn’t be nice to be outside when it’s too wet and rainy but if there is a light drizzle and some wind it would still be pretty accessible. The vibe I wanted to go for was being up in the mountains outside enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee and being social with your friends and family.

First impression of the photography and video industry is that it seems like there’s a lot of work that goes into it. There’s a lot of set designing and a lot of planning and processing that goes into just one shoot. I have a peer in my new media class who is constantly having shoots to do. They have a very good time management skills. Working in the industry I feel like you have to have that sort of skill come naturally to you. You always have to constantly collaborate with new people that you haven’t really met before. I feel like as a design student we are collaborating with each other a lot but with the photography people the aspect of having like a new model each time means that you have to have good people skills. You also can’t be shy as well, if you’re directing a model and you want to bring your vision to life you can’t be afraid to tell somebody to do something. I also believe that Visual design students are very aware of their surroundings. They have a different sense of the world than most people do. You have to be able to learn how to work with lighting and shading not just on a computer screen but in the physical world. I feel like the learning curve with learning how to do lighting and shading with lights with props and people is a very large one. There’s another thing they say about lighting on people that is really important as well. I believe I don’t photograph well but that’s because I don’t know my angles. I’ve been around myself for years and I still don’t know my angles very well but a photographer would look at me and in one second be aware of what my good side or bad side is and they would know how to pose me. Also the idea of trying to find a visually appealing environment or making a visually appealing environment is otherworldly to me. I feel like somebody that is very skilled in photography can make any anything look appealing. I feel like a very good photographer can tell the whole story with their picture. When a photographer takes a picture it’s very much different from when I take a picture. I’m having a good time with friends and I’m in the car somebody just told a joke, I’ll just turn the camera around and take a picture of everybody in the car, but when I look back at the picture I can’t remember what was happening in that moment. I feel like photographers have this insight to tell the full story. I feel like you would have to know a lot about human perspective as well. If you’re trying to sell a product you have to make it appealing enough to catch somebody’s eye. So you have to know the psychology behind placement and color. That is something that would come with a lot of experience I believe, only trial and error could produce a product that is visually appealing and can capture the correct emotion that you want people to perceive. In conclusion the visual design Industry is fast. People are constantly moving and constantly being rotated in and out. Time management skills are very important, visual knowledge is very important, and people skills are very important.

Ownership

In the past ownership has been hard for me. Growing up I would have the fear of taking responsibility for things that I have done out of fear of being scolded. But as an adult these days I believe that taking ownership and responsibility for things that you have done is a strong reflection of your character. Whether it being something that you’ve done incorrectly or some thing that you have done correctly it is important to take ownership. An example of me taking ownership is in my workplace, if there is a mistake that has been made I am always quick to say “that was me,” I believe it benefits if it’s not only me but my team. Taking ownership of my actions shows my team that I am going to be a good team player, it shows my workplace that I am trustworthy, and it makes me an easier person to be around in general. I also think that it can set a good example for the others around me. There’s also made it easier for me to take ownership for the good things that I’ve done. I’m not afraid to say “that was me,” when something goes well. That being said I overall just love having a good work environment and believing that a good workplace starts with me as well.

Learn and be curious.

Learning and being curious not only in the workplace but in normal life is really important. I feel like a lot of people believe at a certain age we’re done learning, and it causes people to be close minded. As humans we are constantly learning and we are constantly expanding our perspectives. It’s important to stay curious, ask questions, and have an open mind. There’s honestly so much stuff going on out in that world that there’s no possible way you would know everything. Just like that saying you’re learning something new every day. An example of this would be this program, I have been an artist for many years but I decided to take a chance and expand my knowledge of art and design through this program. I am learning new things about myself every day in this. It’s fun to pick the brains of my peers to see how they came up with the conclusions to similar problems, and how many teachers have different career path and goals. Especially with some thing you love, you should always be learning and always be curious because it just makes you a smarter person. And you won’t be so scared of change.

Earn trust.

An example of me trying to earn trust is being a good team player when it comes to group projects. I know that this program is going to have a lot of group projects so I wanted to start off strong. It’s a little difficult for me to work with people that I don’t know very well but I tried my ultimate best. I had a bit of a rough start at the beginning of the year, I had to figure out my school, work, and life balance. So once I had my priorities straight I knew that my peers around me were smart and intelligent people and I just knew that I was going to learn so much from them. I struggle with the fact that I don’t know it absolutely everything, so when it comes to your projects I tried my best to not take too much on my plate. Example with our history project in the beginning of the year Felt like my peers just took off running, and it was a little hard for me to catch up to them. And instead of sitting there and doing nothing and just watching them move farther away from me and this project I sat somebody down and I communicated with them the difficulties I was having. I explained to this person that I felt like I wasn’t pulling my weight and that I’m not typically that kind of person, I just basically ask them to give me anything that I could work on. The person I was talking to really appreciated that I reached out and I feel like we have a stronger relationship because of that. I believe earning trust is as easy as just saying what is on your mind because people don’t like fake people. Being true to yourself is also being true to others. So not worrying about what somebody thinks of you and telling them your true thoughts about where you’re at in your life is easier for people to respond to. So in conclusion be true to yourself, communicate what you want, be selfish but also be selfless.

Dive deep.

Diving deep is something that I can struggle with. An example of not diving deep enough would probably be studying for tests and testing in general. Sometimes I will just take the study guide glance over it and not really absorb any of the information just thinking that I will know what to do in the moment and it never pans out that way. I have a major test anxiety and I have confidence in my abilities but some thing about being in a test environment is just nerve-racking. This is just one example of issues that I have like that. I feel like in my every day life I will have an issue that I want to change about myself, and the outcome of just focusing on that issue and trying to solve it would benefit me and my life overall. But sometimes it’s difficult for me to actually put in the effort to change those things, like somewhere in the back of my head I know it’s wrong but I also tell myself it is what it is. So I would like to make diving deep part of my daily routine. Whether it be with stretching or with meditation just going that extra mile to sit with the information. I feel like diving deep comes naturally to people but with me it’s a little bit more of a motivational thing. So doesn’t happen all the time but I would like to see this tiny little habit of mine disappear.

Three mediums I used are watercolor, photography, and Posca paint pens.

I sit on top of a dragon with a long body that stretches into the darkest behind it. The flying is fast and erratic. He is flying me through a portal that starts dark and scary but leads into a golden light. I am unsure of the path but the dragon is very familiar. His flying maybe fast and crazy but his attitude is confident and calm. I am on a wild ride but I know that as all as a hold on I will be safe and the future is literally bright. Just like this program, at first I am scared and nervous but will learn a ton of valuable things as long as I stick with it.

My whole life I have been a very cautious person. I not huge fan of boats and airplanes but I have never let that stop me. Most of my family lives in Hawaii so to visit them I have to sit in a flying tube of metal miles in the air over the Pacific Ocean in a tiny little seat. Do I ever regret it? No way!! My people are in Hawaii and I always block out the plane ride anyways, yes I am the dramatic. That being said I am always over thinking and trying to make the best moves. So trusting the process is a little difficult for me, but I believe in the universe and I know that I will get to where I need to be going. I will learn the lessons I need to and I will be happy along the way.

Moving to seattle has to be a big trust the process moment for me and it still is. But if I never said yes to hanging out with someone, I wouldn’t have never ended up with this whole life I have created for myself.

I met up with a childhood friend for the first time in many years. He texted me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to hang out. I was on the fence because he could have easily been a creep but I decided to do it anyways. Turns out we had a ton in common. The one thing we had most in common was wanting to move north and not being able to find anyone who was committed enough for the change. In 4 months we were in Seattle. I said yes to the that one text and it kick started my adult life. I know live in my dream city, have my dream found family, have done a ton of traveling, and now I am going to school for something I am really passionate about.

I still struggle with say yes to things, but it is crazy that one yes can lead to a million of them and suddenly you’re not that beach bum kid any more but maybe just little bit at heart.

This blog question is pretty interesting. When I first started art I wanted to be an animator. I wanted to make the 2d cartoons that I was watching on tv at the time. I soon came to understand that if I really wanted to work on shows like that and get into the real meat and potatoes of it, I would have to become a storyboard artist. So with that career path I wanted to inspire a large number of people and teach good values to kids. but now that my path has changed I am not to sure what I want now. Working with a large company that is stable sound very ideal but also working for a small start up where I can get really close to my teammates sound way more full filling. So I think that my current aim, I want to end up working with a small team for a specific audience. Something that has to do with product design for climbing, video games, or even animation.

So the positives for a small audience, are not having to appeal to everyone. Another positive is the small specific audience becoming a large specific audience. Lets choose climbing for example, there are very few big name companies for climbing but they are all very recognizable. So recognizable in fact that you don’t see many ads for them. Climbers are the ads themselves. Showing off their gear and clothes. Ask any climber and they will recommend you their favorite pants to climb in or their favorite down turn shoes. Climbing is now so popular I am sure your cousin if not brother loves to boulder on the weekends.

Another positive is being more intimate with your work. Bigger companies have to pump stuff out very quietly to keep appealing to more people and many corners can be cut or not a lot of love is into mass production. I am sure you still have to meet deadlines and what not but being able to work with a video game for many years and making it the best it can be sounds very nice. That being said a lot video games have corners cut all the time.

A down side of working for a small specific audience is that audience is one too specific or two just simply goes away after a few years. I feel like it is a lot like stocks, you start small and want it to grow. Investing doesn’t always pan out and that’s sad but it happens. So that a down side, your audience being too weak or not growing. also maybe not a ton of pay to start out with. Also not having your band name to back you up yet. You have to get out there with a lot of work and the can be fruitful but also can’t be.

As long as I can find something I am passionate about or something leads me to that I am happy. At the end of the day I want to be proud of the things I do and be able to have a good work life balance, work hard, play harder.

our team decided to do pacific northwest birds. this was super easy and fun to make. I made all of the panels in illustrator and got the images off of google search. I am really please with the way it turned out. I learned a lot more about illustrator and eye jack was very easy to work with. The only issues I had was with uploading sound. every time I tried uploading sound, eye jack would stop uploading its half way through. after lots of struggling I decide to give in and just let the panels be soundless. It turned out pretty great besides that.

I reviewed the oculus quest 2. Over all the system is really cool. I have never been interested VR until now. The visuals are very convincing but I they need a bit of work. Just clearer and cleaner would be nice. The lights make you a little motion sick after a bit, so you if you are new to the oculus or VR in general it might take a bit of time to get use too. The fact that the system is self contained is really cool but it also means that not a ton of connect has been made for it. The 4 external cameras make it so you don’t have to relay on anything other setup for the system to be aware of your surrounding. what I think is really cool is after you setup your boundaries the system well alert you to when you step out of your boundaries by showing you a faint out line of real life surrounding. over all the system is cool, easy to use, but a little expensive for not having a ton of content.